Bottle-filling machine.



11.111111" a W. SUTER. BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE. l APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15, 1909. 988,657-, Y Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

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1-E Noam# News co.. wAsmNmoN. a4 t UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RICHARD PFAFF AND WERNER SUTER, OF ZURICH, SWITZERLAND.

BOTTLE-FILLING MACHINE.

ments in Bottle-Filling Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for filling receptacles, for example bottles, with liquid under pressure of that class in which the supports for the receptacles are fixed to a horizontal rotatable frame and are pressed against a charging nozzle by means of a fluid under pressure, such as compressed air.

The invention consists in providing the l, passage opened by rotation of the frame for the entrance of pressure fluid to the receptacle with a branch leading to a chamber in which the fluid can act on a movable member for example a membrane, piston or the like, in order to open thepassages for the entrance of liquid to the receptacle and for the exhaust of air from the receptacle. After the filling of the receptacle these passages are automatically closed by the automatic cutting off of the pressure fiuid. The passages for the entrance of the liquid and exhaust of the air are, therefore, only opened when the requisite air pressure exists in the receptacle. If the receptacle is broken or leaks these passages are not opened, or are immediately closed by the escape of pressure fluid, so that there is no loss of liquid. Similarly, loss of liquid is prevented if there is no receptacle on the support.

In previously known apparatus of a similar type, apart from the fact that a special device is required for closing the liquid passage after the filling of the receptacle, the passage for the exhausting air is closed by a valve which is not positively controlled. This valve is liable to fail to act by reason of liquid which accidentally enters the valve chamber and becomes thick or sticky therein for example beer.

Two embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings.

The apparatus illustrated comprises a central cock with a fixed plug and a shell which rotates with the receptacle carrier. Instead of this, there may be a separate cock for each Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led March 15, 1909.

Patented Api'. 4, 1911.

Serial No. 483,581.

of the sixteen fillers shown, and there may be more or fewer than sixteen fillers. The shell of the cock may be fixed, and the plug rotatable.

In the drawings Figures 1 and 2 are vertical sections at right angles to each other of one of the sixteen fillers. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the upper part of one of the fillers. Fig. et is a vertical section of the central cock. Fig. 5 a cross-section thereof, approximately on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line 5--51 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a plan view of half of the apparatus. Figs. 7 to 9 illustrate the second embodiment, Fig. 7 being a plan view of half of the apparatus, and Figs. 8 and 9 being vertical sections at right angles to one another of one of the fillers.

The machine-frame 1 has a pillar located below a chamber 4L. To this pillar 41 is fixed the plug 2 of the central cock. The shell Bis fixed to a hollow pillar la and is rotatable about the plug. The bottle-carrier, which has sixteen hollow radial arms 5 is mounted on the shell. Each radial arm carries a valve box 6. The pressure fluid for opening the passages for the liquid and airexhaust flows from the chamber 4 through the channels 10 and 16 of the plug 2, and thence through one of the sixteen channels 17 of the shell through an arm 5 to a channel 18, which divides into two branch-channels 19 and 20. The channel 19 leads to an annular channel 19a passing to the fillerhead 15, from which the fluid flows into the bottle. The channel 20 communicates with a chamber 21 (Fig. 1), one wall of which is formed by a membrane 22, dividing said chamber 21 from a chamber 23. To this membrane is attached a metallic member Q3 which is acted on by a spring 23h at one side, and has fixed to its other side pistons 2J. and 25 ada )ted to close the channels 26 and 31 provided for the passage of the liquid and the exhausting air respectively.

Rotation of the bottle-carrier brings the channel 17 into connnunication with a channel 1Ga in the plug, and said latter channel communicates with an exhaust-channel 35.

The liquid flows from the chamber et through a channel 2G in the plug 2 to a channel 26 in the shell and one of the arms moved to its right-hand position the air rspring 23by and close the passages for the 5. lV hen the piston 24C is in its right-hand position the liquid flows from the channel 26 through channel 27 and pipe l28 into thc bottle.

The air expelled from the bottle being filled flows through a channel 29 to the channel 30 and thence to the chamber containing the piston 25. Vhen the latter is flows through .channels 31, 32 and 33 to the chamber 4.

Above the movable filler-head 15 there isr a channel 36 communicating with the atmosphere. When the bottle is under pressure, displacement of the filler-head closes this channel. When the pressure is relaxed the said channel is opened by return of the filler-head to normal position, so that the pressure fluid exhausts through said channel 36 and ceases to act on the filled bottle.

1f the bottle is broken the pressure fluid in the chamber 21 escapes through the channel 19 into the atmosphere, so that the pistons 2i and 25 are thrust to the left by the liquid and exhaust air.

7 is a centering device for the bottlemouth. p

The bottle-holder is lifted, and the bottle pressed against the filler-head by means of air forced by an air-pump through the passage 9 in pillar d1 into the plug and through channels 11 and 12 and pipes 13 into a chamber below the bottle holder. From the said chamber the air flows through 13, 12 and 11 to a channel 11'LL and pipe 3.4 into the atmosphere.

2a designates a groove in the plug 2, to facilitate the passage of the compressed air to the pipes 13.

Each of the fillers fills one bottle during one revolution of the shell.

The operation of filling is as follows: When a bottle has been pressed against a filler-head the channel 1G is placed in communication with the respective channels 17, 18 etc. Pressure fluid flows through 17, 18, 19 and 19u into the bottle, yin which it produces the requisite pressure, and through 18 and 2O into the chamber 21. 1n this cha-mber it acts on the membrane 22 and displaces the pistons 24 and 25 from their normal left-hand end-position. The passages from 26 to 27 and 30 to 31 for the liquid and for the escape of air from the bottle being filled are thus opened. The liquid flows through pipe 28 into the bottle, and air escapes through 2S), '30, 31, '32 and 33 to the chamber i. Simultaneously with the opening of the valves the flow of pressure fluid from the chamber Il to the bottle and chamber 21 is cut off, connnunication between 1G and 17 being broken. Vhen the bottle is full the channel 17 is placed inl coirniiuiiication with the channel 1Ga in the plug 2, and pressure fluid escapes from 17, 18, 19, 19, 20 and 21 through .the channel 35. upon moves the pistons 21 and 25 toward the left and vcloses the passages for the liquid and escaping air.l Meanwhile the flow of pressure liuid to the chamber of the bottle-holder has also been cut off, and the fluid in said chamber exhausts through 13, 12, 11, 11a and 34 into the atmosphere.

To secure the proper periods of communication between the channels in the plug 2 and shell 3 the plug 2 has circumferential grooves as shown in Fig. 5a.

1n the modification shown in Figs. 7 to 9, the kpistons 24C and 25C are disposed in a vertical direction instead of horizontal and are arranged within chambers 5C in the arm l5, said pistons being connected to a cross head 24d secured to a membrane 22c dividing the chamber' 21C in the valve box 6c below the membrane from a chamber 23c above same. The spring' 23b of the construction of Figs.

1 to 3, is here replaced by a duct 8 through which pressure fluid enters and acts on a piston 81 connected to the membrane and on'L the opposite side of the membrane a coiled spring 21l is interposed between the cross head 24d and a shoulder' in the chamber 21c to assist the pressure of the fluid. The arrangement and function of the channels 18,

l19, 26, 31 and 27, 30 is the same as in the construction previously described and is considered to needno further description.

YVhat we claim as `our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentof the United States is 1. In a bottle-filling machine, a fillinghead having a liquid supply passage and an air-exhaust passage disposed to open into a receptacle in engagement with said head,

The spring in the chamber 23 therevalves for closing each passage, a fluid-pressure actuator connected to said valves, and having means for normallyk holding said valves in closed position, and means for simultaneously supplying fluid-pressure to said actuator and to said exhaust-passage between its said valve and the receptacle, to operate said actua-tor to open said valves simultaneously when the pressure is raised in the receptacle to a predetermined point, substantially as described.

2. 1n a bottle-filling machine, a rotatably mounted frame having a series of fillingheads thereon, each head having a liquid supply-passage and an air-exhaust passage disposed to open into a receptacle in engagement therewith, a pair of valves for closing the passage of each head, a fluid-pressure actuator connected to each pair of valves and having means for normally holding said valves in closed position, said actuator having fluid connections with said exhaust passage, between the valve thereof and the reoeptaele, a source of fluid pressure supply, In Witness whereof We have signed this and a controlhng Valve therefor, about Which specfeatlon in the presence of two Witnesses. 10

said frame is adapted to be rotated, said Valve having means for connecting said fluid pressure supply and said actuator, and for connecting said actuator to an exhaust, suo- Witnesses:

oessvely as said frame is rotated, substan- HERM. Sol-HLLING,

tially as described. JOSEPH SIMON.

Copies of this patentrmay be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

